Holiday Travel: The Gift of Biometrics

Crooner Andy Williams says this is supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year.” But, for many, the holidays mean dealing with the frustration of air travel -- the crowds, the lines, the security and scanning, and then the sprint to the gate.

A TripAdvisor survey released last week shows that this year, air travelers should expect longer lines at the airports as 46 percent among those traveling plan to fly to their destination, up from 42 percent last year. Another noteworthy finding is that 27 percent of those surveyed cite airline delays and cancellations as the most frustrating part of holiday travel.

Air travel, more than any other mode of transportation, is challenged by significant bottlenecks, many of which are caused by the need for manual identity checks. But the good news is that biometric technology, which can make air travel more secure, efficient and even pleasant already exists and is markedly improving the passenger experience at major airports around the world.

Biometrics, the identification of humans by their physiological traits, has long been used to verify presented identities. Recent advances in technology now enable advanced biometric approaches, including iris recognition, that are much more sophisticated and less prone to error. From national ID programs that deliver social services to the poor to a wide variety of programs for expediting travel and commerce, biometrics are becoming much more prevalent as a means by which to ensure we are who we say we are.

The latest generation of iris-based biometric systems is revolutionizing air travel with rapid, effortless, highly accurate, and fully automated identity verification, drastically reducing queues and enabling travelers to actually enjoy their time in airports.

At airports like London's Gatwick as well as Qatar’s Doha Airport and Dubai International, for example, millions of airline passengers a year now pass through identity verification systems that utilize iris recognition to expedite immigration or security checkpoints. In Dubai, this new approach cuts the immigration process time for the average traveler from over 40 minutes to just a few seconds.

Looking to the future, airport trials using iris recognition are underway to automate every point where you need to verify your identity, including baggage drop-off, security screening, and even boarding. As with immigration, not only does this speed the process significantly, but it provides a far less intrusive approach: The systems can scan passengers from a comfortable working distance of up to 2.5 meters and function well irrespective of the height of a passenger. This ADA-compliant approach is a boon to physically disabled passengers, who can now access an expanded range of automated identity verification services.

As with most revolutionary technologies, biometrics is not without its critics, who often cite privacy as a concern. But, used with care, and deployed in a secure and sophisticated manner, biometric identity verification should enhance rather than conflict with individual privacy and dignity.

The U.S. airline industry expects 42 million passengers to fly from Dec. 17 through Jan. 6. This will undoubtedly mean longer lines for many of us. The good news is we have the technology to change this. Who knows? In a few years fruitcake – not air travel - may make its way back to the top of most dreaded aspect of the holiday season.

Joey Pritikin has been innovating in the biometrics industry for over ten years, working at AOptix Technologies for the last five. As Director of Product Marketing, he oversees the company’s Identity Solutions product roadmap.